The Mantis, Cicada, and Oriole

"Wuu!"

In the valley, a long black creature howled as it sensed a familiar presence. It had been searching for the person who killed her son for so long. Each night it would shriek and destroy everything it saw. When it returned to Mist valley, it felt a familiar aura... That aura was the same it felt on her son's dead body! It swiftly ran towards the Degasi river where it felt the aura originating.

Similarly, in the town of Lorea, king Sig'car laid on the ground of a long throne room. Blood pooled beneath him as he sat in the middle of over a hundred dead lychni. A dark aura surrounded his body, and strangely, his power seemed to increase every second he seeped in their blood.

"My king!" Kiev slammed the door open and humbly prostrated on the ground.

"What the hell do you want‽" King Sig'car sat up, glaring at Kiev angrily.

"We found Rey!"

King Sig'car's eyes widened as he grinned maniacally.

"This is such a waste of their blood. Damn it! Let's go, show me where he is!"

As Soma walked through the vibrant forest, he suddenly closed his eyes and smiled.

"I can feel it, Ozzy... Riza is coming to us. Come, let's keep moving!"

Soma ran through the forest with excitement, not caring to hide anymore.

Rey observed everything Soma did and immediately went into Sanctuary.

"Master Kioko! Soma is moving toward my friends!"

"This... so suddenly?"

"I don't understand why they would leave the comfort of the capital, but that's not important! We have to intercept him, please!"

Master Kioko gritted his teeth and looked at Rey.

"How strong is your will now, after all the dreams we've fought through?"

"Much stronger, comparable to a Saint."

Master Kioko looked at Rey in horror. Wasn't this a little too fast? What cheat code did he have to have such a strong will?

"Good, very good. With my help, we might be able to suppress him. I'll head over at once!"

In the capital of the Sun Empire, Riza, Sonalius, and matriarch Tyrien along with three other leaders met outside the Tower To the Sun building. Two carriages were readied for their departure. Besides the better quality of its materials, it was exactly the same as the one Sonalius had procured.

"Patriarch Johannes of the Humans, patriarch Keanu of the Excardi Inber, and matriarch Sana of the Shades, please welcome my new disciple, Riza."

"The time has come for another disciple?" Johannes said with shock. "She's human too, just like your last disciple, I see."

Johannes looked at Riza with a cheery smile. His orange curly-hair was unmistakable with his tall build.

"If you ever need a home or a new mast-"

A blade came close to his neck.

"Don't recruit my disciple." Tyrien looked at him coldly.

"Relax, you're also so uptight, Tyrien. What do you think, Sana?"

Sana's white, clear skin looked really beautiful. Her long hair fell past her shoulders, and her blue eyes looked at Riza inquisitively.

"She is very cute, those eyes are so precious! Like real gold... I understand why Tyrien picked her. Indeed, if you ever need a hom-"

Tyrien looked at the two coldly and repressed the urge to fight them. She turned to Keanu, half expecting him to speak.

Keanu stood there with an intense expression. His tall, three-meter body stood as sturdy as Mount Tai. He looked overbearing as he glanced at Riza, sending shivers down her spine.

"Body is frail... good look in her eyes. Determined." Keanu grunted. "Go already."

His guttural, rough voice was like stone striking metal; it was very raw and unpleasant. Riza rose to her feet, uncaring for their words. The only thing on her mind now was Sig'car.

"If you've made your introductions... then let's move on."

Tyrien glanced at Johannes and Sana before getting on the carriage. Sonalius, Riza, and Tyrien sat on the first carriage, while the other three sat on the second one. Within a moment's notice, they sped up and the building got further away.

'Mother, father. May you rest soon enough... If this torch need be passed to yet another, then let it be. But let justice be met, and Sig'car be pierced with our judgment.' Riza silently spoke a prayer aimlessly and looked ahead. When she looked up, Sonalius' bright smile is all she saw.

"We will defeat him now. Don't worry, Riza. We'll avenge each and every person he's killed."

Sonalius' smile turned bitter. Riza covered her eyes, hiding the tears that flowed without ceasing. They passed the city wall and headed south for Lorea.

As the two carriages traveled to Lorea, Soma's feet touched the Degasi river as he ran on water. Within a moment, however, Soma's eyes widened.

A huge, 15-meter tall beast with black scales and a long, slender body perched itself on top of a hill across the river. Behind Soma was a furious purple-skinned Lychni that looked murderous and a lanky man that tried to hide behind king Sig'car.

"Rey!" King Sig'car shouted at him, but then saw the huge beast looking at Soma too. Sweat lined his back just from looking at it. But he finally found Rey; he wasn't going to let him slip away. He motioned for Kiev to leave and threw down a blue powder, freezing the water and running to Soma.

"Humans..." The black beast strained its voice to speak the Human tongue. Its voice bellowed with anger as it charged into the river.

"I have no time to play with you two!" Soma coughed up blood and teleported across the river. Not sparing a second to think, he ran with all his might. Both beast and man had their child killed in horrific ways by Soma; they glanced at each other and instantly understood their bond.

Rey watched the events unfold in between his training, and kept Kioko updated so he could intercept. His whole body shook with despair as he saw both the space beast and king Sig'car chasing after Soma. Rey could only keep practicing and increase his willpower, hoping to break free from Soma. If he can't break Soma's control then it seems that... Something big is about to happen!